The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

Chapter CXII

634 The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle This remedy produced the desired effect: unpalatable as it was, the young gentleman no sooner recovered his breath, which was endangered by such a sudden application , than he thank’d his friend Jack for the seasonable operation he had performed; and having no longer any just reason to doubt the reality of what appealed so convincingly to his senses, he shifted himself on the instant,2 not without hurry and trepidation ; and putting on his morning-dress, sallied forth to the Bare,3 in order to deliberate with himself on the important intelligence he had received. Hatchway, not yet fully convinced of his sanity, and curious to know the purport of the letter, which had affected him in such an extraordinary manner, carefully attended his footsteps in this excursion, in hope of being favoured with his confidence, in the course of their perambulation. Our hero no sooner appeared at the street-door, than he was saluted by the messenger, who having posted himself in the way for that purpose , “God bless your noble honour, squire Pickle, (cried he) and give you joy of succeeding to your father’s estate.” These words had scarce proceeded from his mouth, when the lieutenant hopping eagerly towards the countryman, squeezed his hand with great affection, and asked if the old gentleman had actually taken his departure: “Ay, master Hatchway, (replied the other) in such a woundy haste,4 that he forgot to make a will.” “Body of me!5 (exclaimed the seaman) these are the best tidings I have heard since I first went to sea. Here, my lad, take my purse, and stow thyself chocque-full of the best liquor in the land.”6 So saying, he tipped the peasant with ten pieces,7 and immediately the whole place ecchoed with the sound of Tom’s instrument; while Peregrine , repairing to the walk, communicated the billet to his honest friend, who, at his desire, went forthwith to the lodgings of captain Gauntlet, and returned in less than half an hour with that gentleman, who (I need not say) was heartily rejoiced at the occasion. chapter cxii. Peregrine holds a consultation with his friends, in consequence of which he bids adieu to the Fleet. He arrives at his father’s house, and asserts his right of inheritance. Nor did our hero keep the Misanthrope in ignorance of this happy turn of fortune: Pipes was dispatched to the senior, with a message requesting his immediate presence; and he accordingly appeared, in obedience to the summons, growling with discontent, for having been deprived of several hours of his natural rest. His mouth was immediately stopped with the letter, at which he smiled horrible a ghastly grin;1 and, after a compliment of congratulation, they entered into close divan,2 about the measures to be taken in consequence of this event. Volume Four, Chapter CXII 635 There was no room for much debate: it was unanimously agreed, that Pickle should set out, with all possible dispatch, for the garison, to which Gauntlet and Hatchway resolved to attend him; and Pipes was accordingly ordered to prepare a couple of postchaises , while Godfrey went to procure bail for his friend, and provide them with money for the expence of the expedition, but not before he was desired by Peregrine to conceal this piece of news from his sister, that our youth might have an opportunity to surprise her in a more interesting manner, after he should have settled his affairs. All these previous steps being taken in less than an hour, our hero took his leave of the Fleet, after he had left twenty guineas with the warden for the relief of the poor prisoners, a great number of whom conveyed him to the gate, pouring forth prayers for his long life and prosperity; and he took the road to the garison, in the most elevated transports of joy, unallayed with the least mixture of grief at the death of a parent whose paternal tenderness he had never known; so that his breast was absolutely a stranger to that boasted Στοργὴ,3 or instinct of affection, by which the charities are supposed to subsist. Of all the journeys he had ever made, this, sure, was the most delightful: he felt all the extasy that must naturally be produced in a young man of his imagination, from such a sudden transition, in point of circumstance; he found himself delivered from confinement and disgrace...